ALAMEDA — Having spent nine years with ESPN, Jon Gruden knows a storyline.

Before the Raiders got on a plane and left Winnipeg late Thursday night following a 22-21 exhibition win over the Green Bay Packers, Gruden took minor exception to a question about the latest “distraction” of playing out of the country on an 80-yard field.

“There’s not as many distractions here as you think or anybody thinks,” Gruden told reporters. “Antonio Brown is doing fine. We’ve got a good, young football team. We might have five undrafted free agent players make the team. That’s the story most people are missing.”

Gruden’s a coach, not an assignment editor, but his idea is worth a look as the Raiders take the day off and get back at it Saturday.

Six players who went unselected in the 2019 NFL draft that still have reason to dream, ranked in order of their likelihood of making the 53-man roster on Aug. 31:

Undrafted rookie free agent A..J. Cole has the inside track to be the Raiders punter when the regular season begins on Sept. 9.

A.J. Cole, punter, North Carolina State: A couple of punts that bounced into the “end zone” on an 80-yard field and reduced his net to 30.2 does nothing to have the Raiders scouring the waiver wire for their punter.

Cole registered an early knockout of incumbent Johnny Townsend, a fifth-round draft pick a year ago, showing better distance and hang time. He held flawlessly for three Daniel Carlson field goals against the Packers, including the game winner, and is capable of kicking off.

Anthony Rush, defensive tackle, Alabama-Birmingham: Had four more tackles against the Packers, including one for loss, in 27 snaps.

Rush didn’t arrive until Aug. 1 but showed up in a big way in the exhibition opener against the Rams. He’s built on that momentum ever since. At 6-foot-5, 350 pounds, Rush can blow up a run scheme and has some pocket pushing presence as well.

He moves better than you think, as evidenced by an interception and 30-yard touchdown return in college.

Strictly an interior defender, and it’s crowded in the Raiders phone booth, with Johnathan Hankins, Justin Ellis, P.J. Hall, Maurice Hurst and Ethan Westbrooks on the roster. For purposes of bookkeeping, Ellis saw his 2019 of $2.25 million guaranteed on March 15. He signed a three-year extension last year.

Keelan Doss has done more than carry helmets for rookies during training camp.

Keelan Doss, wide receiver, U.C. Davis: Doss has been targeted 14 times in three exhibition games, catching 11 passes for 99 yards and a touchdown. Had a gorgeous 17-yard toe-tap reception from Nathan Peterman to help set up the game-winning field goal against Green Bay (and then dropped an easy one).

A year ago, the Alameda product would have been a lock. He’s 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, and Gruden went out to of his way to point out Doss has successfully learned all three positions, flanker, split end and slot.

Receivers on the roster will include Antonio Brown, Tyrell Williams and Hunter Renfrow and Dwayne Harris, the latter for special teams. From there it’s a jumble, with Ryan Grant, Doss, J.J. Nelson and Marcell Ateman. Keon Hatcher and De’Mornay-Pierson El are longshots for the 53, but may be practice squad worthy.

If there’s a concern, it’s that receivers who are down the list on the depth chart have special teams skills. Doss has yet to take a special teams snap in three exhibition games, according to game book snap counts.

Oakland Raiders running back Alec Ingold (45) takes part in a drill during NFL football training camp Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019, in Napa, Calif. Both the Oakland Raiders and the Los Angeles Rams held a joint practice before their upcoming preseason game on Saturday. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

Alec Ingold, fullback, Wisconsin: To make the roster, Ingold would have to beat out Keith Smith, who returned to action after an off-season knee procedure, played 27 snaps and looked good to go. Ingold played 15 snaps, seven on special teams.

Given the declining use of fullbacks in the NFL, Ingold could probably be stashed on the practice squad easily enough unless Gruden and special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia deem him the clear winner over Smith.

Keisean Nixon, cornerback, South Carolina: A physical corner who relishes press coverage and is unafraid to tackle. Nixon played a team-high 66 snaps defensively against Green Bay and had 10 more on special teams. He had tight coverage on two incompletions thrown his way early in the game and was getting rave reviews from commentators Matt Millen and Rich Gannon.

Nixon could get a stay in that off-season free agent signing Nevin Lawson will open the season with a four-game suspension for violating the NFL polcy on performance enhancing drugs.

Oakland Raiders’ Andre James walks off the field after NFL football practice in Alameda, Calif., Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Andre James, UCLA, center: James is admittedly a longshot. But he’s made a difficult switch to center when the Raiders needed a body because backup Jordan Devey has been pressed into duty at right guard because of Gabe Jackson’s MCL strain.

Could be enough to get him on the practice squad as a developmental player. Side note: James broke in as a starter at UCLA at right tackle, replacing Kolton Miller, who sustained a broken leg. Miller was moved to the left side the next year and became the Raiders’ first-round pick.